Church Choir Concert Unpretentious, Sensitive

November 10, 1987|By TIM SMITH, Music Writer

Some of the most satisfying performances are the most unpretentious. A case in point was the free concert offered Sunday afternoon by the Christ Church Chancel Choir in Fort Lauderdale. Less than an hour in length, the program included a youthful, but musically mature, mass by Schubert, a buoyant organ concerto by Handel and a heartfelt anthem by Haydn.

Except for one slight touch of the theatrical -- as if magically, the organ rose up out of a pit to tower over everyone else for the Handel work -- there was a welcome simplicity, not to mention musical proficiency, throughout the concert. And unlike at some concerts in area churches, there were no sermonettes tacked on before or afterward, nothing added that could detract from the music.

Schubert was still a teen when he wrote the G major Mass. Some of it, especially the Credo, has a superficial quality, but it is full of engaging melodic ideas and the choral writing is assured. The Agnus Dei section approaches the caliber of Haydn`s mature masses.

There was clarity and refinement in music director Durward McDonell`s approach to the score; his rather brisk tempos helped to strengthen the drier portions. A more lyrical, expansive touch, however, would have given the Benedictus and Agnus Dei still greater depth.

If not on the highest professional level, the choir was alert, well-balanced and sensitive. Of the vocal soloists, tenor Richard Crawford and baritone Thomas Cavendish were the more effective; sopranos Kay Miller and Stephany Heilig sounded too strained, though they certainly matched their male colleagues for commitment.

A small ensemble, drawn almost entirely from the Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida, played firmly in the Schubert and also in Handel`s B-flat Organ Concerto. The soloist for the Handel was Christ Church organist Stephen Kolarac, whose playing, if a bit more robust at times than Baroque purists probably would allow, had admirable facility, vitality and warmth.

The choir`s spirited account of Haydn`s Abendlied Zu Gott opened the concert.